Reticulated Python or Burmese Python?

[kittyhazelton]

Here's is my personal experience with burms...
I have a VERY docile 9' albino burmese python male who I use for educational shows & exibits. He is a great ambassador for his species & is by far the BEST snake I've ever worked with... however, even at just 9' he is getting harder to handle by a single-person. He is hefty, flopsy, and awkward to move around without a 2nd person present. Now, I'm not so worried about the "danger" factor with this snake particular, but it is something that I always have in the back of my mind. I do not feed him without someone else being home, & for the more recent exhibits I have a 2nd handler with me to help control him. This is something you really need to keep in mind when purchasing EITHER snake, should you be unfortunate enough to have one that ends up with a nasty attitude you're basically setting yourself up for an accident that could potentially lead to a fatal disaster... & the last thing we need to is to have some young adult getting strangled by his pet snake in the media. Personally, I really wouldn't recommend one if you are living by yourself. You should always have a partner who is comfortable handling the animal around any time you open up the enclosure, this is just a common-sense practice when working with potentially dangerous animals.

 

[Wiggles92]

Here's is my personal experience with burms...
I have a VERY docile 9' albino burmese python male who I use for educational shows & exibits. He is a great ambassador for his species & is by far the BEST snake I've ever worked with... however, even at just 9' he is getting harder to handle by a single-person. He is hefty, flopsy, and awkward to move around without a 2nd person present. Now, I'm not so worried about the "danger" factor with this snake particular, but it is something that I always have in the back of my mind. I do not feed him without someone else being home, & for the more recent exhibits I have a 2nd handler with me to help control him. This is something you really need to keep in mind when purchasing EITHER snake, should you be unfortunate enough to have one that ends up with a nasty attitude you're basically setting yourself up for an accident that could potentially lead to a fatal disaster... & the last thing we need to is to have some young adult getting strangled by his pet snake in the media. Personally, I really wouldn't recommend one if you are living by yourself. You should always have a partner who is comfortable handling the animal around any time you open up the enclosure, this is just a common-sense practice when working with potentially dangerous animals.

Yes, having someone around when the snake is being handled or removed from the enclosure is already part of the plan. I currently live at home, and my dad is fine with handling such a snake plus he's a big guy just like me and more heavily built (I'm 6' 7"; he's 6' 5"), so I think that we should be able to control a large snake under most circumstances.

As far the feeding part, I'm building a feeding chute of sorts on the enclosure with a set of double locking doors to prevent escapes; I don't want to be restricted to feeding the snake when someone else is home, so I figure that a feeding chute is a safe alternative since both doors to it would not be open at once.

 

[kittyhazelton]

Yes, having someone around when the snake is being handled or removed from the enclosure is already part of the plan. I currently live at home, and my dad is fine with handling such a snake plus he's a big guy just like me and more heavily built (I'm 6' 7"; he's 6' 5"), so I think that we should be able to control a large snake under most circumstances.

As far the feeding part, I'm building a feeding chute of sorts on the enclosure with a set of double locking doors to prevent escapes; I don't want to be restricted to feeding the snake when someone else is home, so I figure that a feeding chute is a safe alternative since both doors to it would not be open at once.

Ok then... what's the plan when you move out? I assume you're not planning on living your parents for the next 20-30 years. Just saying, creatures like these are usually best planned for AFTER major life changes occur (college, moving out of parents home, entering new careers, etc) I am so glad I waited until after school & out of my folks house to have acquired mine, there were so many unforseen events in life that would have made it impossible to provide the right care & housing of my snake. As someone who now runs a rescue I can't even begin to count how many animals I've recieved from seemingly "responsible & well-informed" individuals who thought they could "plan out" all of this before they've even entered the "real world" of work & routine. All in all, making a purchase on an animal that requires so much is best left for when you are in a position of having your own home & a stable job. You may be an exception, I don't know you personally so ultimately it is up to you to make the decision. I'm merely speaking from actual experience and observation.
That said... I'd go with a burm over a retic any day... but that's my personal preference. I haven't worked with enough retics to form a solid opinion on them.

 

[Wiggles92]

Ok then... what's the plan when you move out? I assume you're not planning on living your parents for the next 20-30 years. Just saying, creatures like these are usually best planned for AFTER major life changes occur (college, moving out of parents home, entering new careers, etc) I am so glad I waited until after school & out of my folks house to have acquired mine, there were so many unforseen events in life that would have made it impossible to provide the right care & housing of my snake. As someone who now runs a rescue I can't even begin to count how many animals I've recieved from seemingly "responsible & well-informed" individuals who thought they could "plan out" all of this before they've even entered the "real world" of work & routine. All in all, making a purchase on an animal that requires so much is best left for when you are in a position of having your own home & a stable job. You may be an exception, I don't know you personally so ultimately it is up to you to make the decision. I'm merely speaking from actual experience and observation.
That said... I'd go with a burm over a retic any day... but that's my personal preference. I haven't worked with enough retics to form a solid opinion on them.

Well, that's why I'm leaning towards a dwarf or super dwarf of either species now. I now figure that I probably should wait on the full-size retics and burms until later in life, but I think that a dwarf or super dwarf should be much more manageable for just myself should I not find someone willing to assist with handling it in the future.

A dwarf or super dwarf of either species shouldn't get any larger than 8-12', right? I figure that's about the maximum size range for trying to handling most snakes alone (depending on their temperament and overall body size).

 

[AndyG.]

A dwarf or super dwarf of either species shouldn't get any larger than 8-12', right? I figure that's about the maximum size range for trying to handling most snakes alone (depending on their temperament and overall body size).

Do not get that mindset. An 8' snake can kill you just as easily as a 20' snake. I've been keeping Retics for a very long time...everything from extremely tame snakes, to highly aggressive snakes. I don't have feeling in 3 out of the 5 fingers, on my left hand, because of one single bite...and that's been a year ago.

The minute you think you're 6'5" and can safely handle a big snake is the the minute you end up on the losing end of a snake that can exert 3000lb of pressure per square inch, on your body.

99.9% of "Dwarf Retics" you see for sale are Jampea locality. They are from the island of Jampea and are anything but Dwarf. As I've already said...I know of at least 10 Jampeas that are 15' - 16'. Mine is 14' and still growing. That's not a Dwarf. That's why I've repeatedly stressed on buying from a reputable source.

This video is one of those large Jampeas. The owner is Jason Reed and the guy handling her is my buddy Shane. Shane is 6'1", works out 6 days a week and can probably bench 300lb. See how easily a "big guy" handles a Dwarf? lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNMprC4RRpw

 

[Wiggles92]

Do not get that mindset. An 8' snake can kill you just as easily as a 20' snake. I've been keeping Retics for a very long time...everything from extremely tame snakes, to highly aggressive snakes. I don't have feeling in 3 out of the 5 fingers, on my left hand, because of one single bite...and that's been a year ago.

The minute you think you're 6'5" and can safely handle a big snake is the the minute you end up on the losing end of a snake that can exert 3000lb of pressure per square inch, on your body.

99.9% of "Dwarf Retics" you see for sale are Jampea locality. They are from the island of Jampea and are anything but Dwarf. As I've already said...I know of at least 10 Jampeas that are 15' - 16'. Mine is 14' and still growing. That's not a Dwarf. That's why I've repeatedly stressed on buying from a reputable source.

This video is one of those large Jampeas. The owner is Jason Reed and the guy handling her is my buddy Shane. Shane is 6'1", works out 6 days a week and can probably bench 300lb. See how easily a "big guy" handles a Dwarf? lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNMprC4RRpw

I do realize that an 8' snake can kill me just as easily as a 20' snake and can easily overpower me, but the 8' snake will also be much smaller and lighter than the 20' snake thereby making it not quite as powerful but still dangerous. As for the bite part, I know that's always going to be a risk, so certain precautions will be taken to try to keep such incidents to a minimum (hopefully none, but knowing snakes it will happen). I figured on handling it frequently from a young age and making sure that it knows that I'm not a threat or food which is why the feeding chute will come in handy since it will hopefully come to associate that with food rather than me.

As for the dwarf part, that's why I'm checking my sources first. The super dwarfs that I'm currently looking at came from 10' parents that were in between a dwarf and super dwarf because they were 50% for each size. These ones should top out around 6-7 feet but shouldn't hit the 12-14 feet of a true dwarf. I'm going to avoid Jampeas and other "dwarf" localities and focus on looking at true super dwarfs from reliable and well-known breeders.

Wow, that Jampea is probably thinking "Pssh, puny humans think they can control me; I just want to explore, so I will." I get your point about the Jampeas still being powerful snakes and are definitely not dwarfs at all. How big is the one from the video anyway?

 

[MonsterMinis]

I voted for Burms.. in general my experiance with these snakes have been the most positive... I've owned one. and worked with many. but upon reading further. I would have to agree with Andy. doesn't matter how big or small you are. I'm actually proof of this being a fairly petite female, and never being majorly harmed by large snakes. big or small NEVER take for granted the animal.

The best thing I can compare them to which you'll prolly have a real good understanding to relate it to is an alligator gar. You are looking at getting a large predetory animal that doesn't understand our language. I'm def not trying to talk you out of it. But as rewarding as large snakes can be the same can be said for their potential danger. and the other big thing is a large snake gets out verse a fish.. lol it won't be flopping on the floor.

I miss my burm very much, she was an amazing pet. and enjoy visiting my snake buddies who still have scaley pets. My husband and I talked about me getting a new one eventually, but ultimately decided against it. We also have a cat, and will soon be parents. an escaped large snake is not something to take lightly. They are a potential danger not just to the humans in the house but other pets.

all things to really think about before takeing the leap.

I also would offer prolly my 1 bit of "wisdom" in dealing with large snakes. Always feed them in a special "cage" giant rubber totes with holes drilled in them are particularly useful. I've also used large livestock troughs with custom screens. Never associate food in any way with the tank itself opening. I've used this trick alone in calming down otherwise "Crazy" snakes. And it's a good habit for you and the snake to get into. Everytime the snake goes into the set space it's food is already dead waiting there for it. no associating with handlers scent and the food, 'nore it's general enclosure. Just that designated area.

 

[AndyG.]

Wow, that Jampea is probably thinking "Pssh, puny humans think they can control me; I just want to explore, so I will." I get your point about the Jampeas still being powerful snakes and are definitely not dwarfs at all. How big is the one from the video anyway?

She's 15' - 16'...my female is 14' and acts the exact same way.

I'm not going to try and talk you out of a Retic...I haven't from the start. They're amazing snakes and they're rewarding to work with but the risks are there.

I think you'll be very happy with a Super Dwarf. They can be a bit flighty and more nervous than most Retics but they're great little snakes, with alot of personality. My 2003 100% pure female is only 5' long.

Garrick has amazing stock and at $300, for a 66% poss het, you can't go wrong.

 

[A. gigas]

I will point out that they are half SD, not pure SD.

 

[Joe M]

Um, who is going to be killed by an 8 foot snake, whether its a burm or retic? A 20 footer poses at least 10x the danger.